‘Idefinitelywant to make this difficult for you,’ he says, but I can tell he’s not completely serious.
‘Okay.’ I take a deep breath. Honestly, five men down – I should be used to this spiel by now. ‘I’ve come to ask you for your piece of my heart back.’
I know instantly that hehasread my blog. He knows exactly what I mean and precisely why I’m here. There’s not even a hint of surprise on his face.
‘I’m afraid that’s impossible,’ he says, downing the second half of his drink. ‘I don’t have it any more.’
‘What did you do with it?’ I demand to know, going along with him. He’s obviously thought about this.
‘I threw it away.’
‘For God’s sake, Dillon! How could you?’ I pretend to be angry with him.
‘You left me, I was hurt, I thought, Fuck you! So I threw it away,’ he says facetiously, a trace of a smile on his lips.
‘Where did you put it?’
‘I don’t know.’ He shrugs. ‘Some lake somewhere. It sank straight to the bottom. Hard and heavy as a stone, it was.’
I’m trying very hard to keep a straight face.
‘A heavy heartless heart,’ he adds and I can’t help it, I crack up laughing.
He does too.
‘Oh, Dillon,’ I say, tears of laughter spilling from my eyes. ‘I’ve missed you.’
He shakes his head, gathering himself together. ‘I’ve missed you, too,’ he replies, sobering. ‘Will you stay to watch the gig?’
‘I’d love to. Can I come and say hi to the lads?’
‘Come on, then.’
Later I find him to say goodbye. He’s had a load more drinks by that point, and I stiffen as he takes me in his arms and speaks in a low, gruff voice into my ear.
‘If you come to my room with me, I’ll tell you which lake I put it in.’
I keep my tone light as I withdraw to look at him. ‘I have a boyfriend who I love dearly. You know how I feel about cheating. And, anyway, I think we’ve been there, done that, don’t you?’
‘Worth a try,’ he says with a wry grin, letting me go.
‘Bye, Dillon.’ I give him a peck on his cheek and turn away, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to know which lake it was?’
‘Was it on the N71 just past Muckross?’ I ask hopefully, giving him a winning smile. I try to ignore the intensity in his dark eyes as he stares at me for a long, torturous moment.
‘If you’re going to tell me, be kind and do it without strings,’ I plead, my tone growing serious.
‘Fine,’ he snaps. ‘Yeah. That’s the lake.’
I throw my arms around him and give him a quick, hard hug, our hearts beating together for the very last time.
‘Take care of yourself.’
‘You too.’
He looks torn as I turn and walk out of the bar.
